Imagine the following scenario. A chilling new disease, mysterious and deadly, originating from Syria, spreads across the Middle East. Israel, through a combination of good governance, a capable and efficient public health system, and luck, is spared the ordeal experienced by her neighbors. It is later discovered that Syria has lied about the development and origins of this disease, covering up for many months the extent to which it has ravaged her population, allowing it to spread, and hindering international efforts to curb it.

Israel, neighboring Syria, quite rightly asks for the to WHO help in its continued fight against this disease, but because of Arab and Muslim opposition, the world health body refuses to send delegations or medical staff into Israeli territories, while sending in team after team into Damascus, despite Syria's continued lies and hindrances.

I would imagine that the official reaction from the administration of US President George W. Bush to this injustice would be nothing short of spectacular.

Of course this scenario is fiction, although not completely. Substitute China for Syria and Taiwan for Israel and you have the sad situation facing this island democracy. While SARS spreads across Asia and WHO specialists race from small villages to major cities across this vast continent, the people of Taiwan (and by extension the rest of the world, what hits Taipei tomorrow will end up in major American cities within a month) are needlessly exposed to greater risk by the WHO boycott of their country.

For years, Taiwan has tried to become an observer member of the WHO, and for years this application has been denied because of objections lodged by the communist dictatorship in Beijing. While the rest of the world will trade with and reap the financial benefits of a relationship with Taiwan, apparently the international community objects to the notion of maintaining the health and well-being of Taiwan's 23 million citizens.

While Taiwan has valiantly staved off the worst effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), China has consistently prevaricated and stymied the efforts of the medical community to investigate the origins of this new disease. Yet, it is China which is allowed to determine who shall and who shall not be afforded recognition by international health organizations.

Today and tomorrow, US Senator Bill Frist, along with several of his colleagues, will be in Taipei for a 24-hour stopover on their Easter recess Asia junket. This brief visit is a perfect opportunity for Frist to publicly reaffirm the US' strong support for Taiwan's entry into the WHO.

America's commitment to Taiwan must be shown, not just in the eventuality of war, but also in times of medical crisis. If anyone should know about the dangers of medical neglect, it would be the good doctor.

It's getting harder all the time to support Taiwan - even though they are democratic - when the businesses of Taiwan are investing so heavily in mainland China. Granted, we here in the US are supporting our enemy with money by purchasing Chinese crap, but Taiwan is looking down the muzzle of the PLA while investing huge sums of money in the ChiComs. Restrict all travel to the mainland, pull your investments out, and boycott all goods from the ChiComs. Lead by example.

The Taiwan chinese are probably better off without WHO running around and spreading the disease. However, the principle is clearly wrong. Reminds me of the old George Orwell line: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others".

i believe that this is the same Gro Harlem Bruntland who was the Norwegian Prime Minister whose socialist government spent that nation to the brink of bankruptcy in the 80's.

It seems as if she has now decided to do the same thing for the entire world under the guise of "It's for the health of the world". Substitute Children for health of the world, and who does this sound like?

7
posted on 04/18/2003 8:22:41 AM PDT
by Calvinist_Dark_Lord
(Ya don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.)

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